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Friday, May 27, 2011

Uses for Borax

If you read my post about homemade laundry soap and you tried it you probably had a ton of Borax left over. You could save if for the next time you make the soap, or try some of these cleaning tips with it:Dishwasher detergent:Mix half Borax with half Baking soda and whalla! A great dishwashing detergent! Just use 2 TBSP per load.Borax and baking soda are both natural disinfectants and mild abrasives so they work hard together to get your dishes clean!Roach killer:I didn’t know this one before but if you mix equal parts of sugar with Borax the roaches will eat both and die from the Borax. You might have some dead roaches you have to sweep up but that is better than live ones! Just sprinkle along base board or behind fridge.Rust removerLemon Juice & BoraxThese two can be mixed together in equal parts and sprayed or dabbed on object. Or object can be submerged in solution. Soak for 30 minutes the rinse and dry. Repeat if needed.

Scented Spray cleaner1/4 cup of dishwashing soap
1/4 cup of white vinegar
2 tsp of Borax
3 1/2 cups of hot water
Lemon or citrus essential oil (5-6 drops or more) Mix and pour into a spray bottle. Use this in every room of the house, the lemon helps to cut grease.Floor and wall cleaner

Fill a bucket with about 1 gallon of warm water.

Add about 1/3 cup Borax.

Add 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent.

Mix in about 1 tablespoon ammonia.

Scouring Powder (for kitchen and bathroom)

Measure 1/4 cup borax; pour into a container.

Add 1/4 cup baking soda.

Add 1 1/2 cups hot water.

Stir until mixed.

How to dry flowers with borax

Cut flowers you wish to preserve, with or without stem.

Sprinkle borax on the bottom of a small box such as a shoe box.

Add up to two flowers.

Completely cover with more borax.

Tape the box shut.

Let sit at room temperature for about one week.

When dried completely, strain off the borax powder; may be reused for more flower drying.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner Pour 1 cup of borax into the toilet bowl at night before you go to sleep. The next morning clean out the toilet bowl with a brush. You will find the job effortless because the borax has loosened all the grime buildup. Note that this method of toilet cleaning works very well for rust rings. Flea Killer Sprinkle borax on dog beds, carpets, and other areas where you suspect that fleas are hatching. Borax releases boric acid, which is a poison (note that very high doses would need to be ingested to harm a pet or human). Mold Inhibitor This method of inhibiting mold is very good to use on areas where mold and mildew is growing but that you don’t need to worry about paint being damaged. Make a thick borax and water paste. Smear it on the moldy area. Let set until dry (overnight or longer). Sweep up the powder, and rinse off the rest. Mice Deterrent Sprinkle borax on the floor along the walls (mice like to run along the side of walls). They don’t like getting the borax on their feet, so they are less likely to return to that area of the house. All Purpose Cleaner Put 2 teaspoons of borax in a spray bottle with 2 cups of very hot water. Shake to blend.Another All-Purpose Cleaner and Disinfectant1 teaspoon borax 1/2 teaspoon washing soda 2 Tablespoons lemon juice

In a spray bottle that will hold at least a pint, combine the ingredients. Add 1 cup very hot water and shake well, mixing and dissolving the dry ingredients.